In a significant military maneuver, Venezuela has announced the deployment of 15,000 troops along its border with Colombia to combat drug trafficking. This decision comes amidst increasing pressure from the United States on President Nicolas Maduro’s administration, which has been accused of involvement in drug-related crimes.
The heightened tensions are underscored by the approach of three U.S. warships toward Venezuela’s coast. This move is part of a broader strategy to intensify pressure on Maduro, who is alleged by Washington to lead a cocaine trafficking cartel. In response to such allegations, Maduro proclaimed during his weekly television appearance, “Venezuela is a clean territory, free of drug trafficking… free from coca leaf crops, free! Free from cocaine production.”
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, aligning with the President’s stance, stated that the military deployment aims to enhance security in Zulia and Tachira states, regions that share a border with Colombia. Cabello reaffirmed the government’s commitment to addressing drug trafficking, citing that authorities have confiscated 53 tons of drugs since the beginning of the year.
The U.S. government has implicated both Maduro and Cabello in the notorious Cartel de los Soles, which Washington has designated as a terrorist organization. In addition to the deployment of naval forces, media reports indicate that the U.S. plans to send an additional 4,000 Marines to the area to bolster its presence.
In a striking escalation, Washington has doubled the bounty for Maduro’s capture on drug charges to $50 million, signaling a serious commitment to remove him from power. Maduro has characterized these actions as attempts at regime change, fueling his narrative of external aggression, and has initiated efforts to recruit thousands of militia members as a part of his defense strategy against perceived threats.
This unfolding situation highlights the escalating conflict between the U.S. and Venezuela, with both nations engaged in a high-stakes confrontation over drug trafficking and governance.